Shi ne abu na farko da aka sani game da shi evento mafi muhimmanci a duniya: Sean Penn zai zama shugaban alkalai a cikin fitowar 2008 Cannes Film Festival, wanda bugu na 61 zai gudana tsakanin 14 ga Mayu zuwa 25 na wannan shekarar.
Na yi farin ciki da wannan nadin, ɗan wasan kuma darektan ya ce: «Bikin na Cannes ya kasance koyaushe shine babban tushen gano sabbin raƙuman ruwa na sinima a cikin duniya, kuma ina matukar farin cikin shiga cikin bikin na wannan shekarar a matsayin shugaban alkalai.".
Penn ya lashe Oscar don "Kogin Mystical" kuma a halin yanzu yana kan ba da umarni "Cikin daji." A cikin 1997 ya sami lambar yabo mafi kyawun ɗan wasan kwaikwayo a Cannes saboda rawar da ya taka a fim ɗin "Tana da Soyayya" ta Nick Cassavetes.